258 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
The remnant of Van Horne’s command rallied at the Riviére aux 
Ecorces, where the wounded were despatched to Detroit by water. 
Continuing his retreat he met Major Snelling with a detachment of : 
the 4th United States Infantry at Spring Wells advancing to his sup- 
port, but the whole force returned that night to Detroit, spreading 
alarm among the garrison and inhabitants by greatly exaggerated 
accounts of the number of Indians by whom they had been am- 
bushed. Hull himself was so much impressed by this unexpected 
disaster that he became convinced that not even the capture of Amherst- 
burg would save him from eventual ruin unless his communication 
with Ohio could be reopened.t Next day McArthur and Cass offered 
to proceed with their regiments to the scene of the action to bring in 
the dead, but his confidence in the efficiency of these troops had been 
so seriously shaken by recent events, that he declined to grant them 
permission? From this time forward both these officers displayed a 
strong disposition to criticize his actions unfavourably at every oppor- 
tunity. Hull’s anxiety for his communications was increased by a 
letter from Lieut.-Colonel John Anderson who had assembled the 2nd 
Regiment of Michigan militia at the River Raisin, with the exception of 
one company stationed at the Miami. He reported that a number of 
persons had been killed or made prisoners by Indians near the Huron 
River, and that the mail had been taken on its way to Detroit. His 
command had but a small supply of ammunition and was greatly dis- 
spirited. Numbers of Indians had been seen on their way to Amherst- 
burg, and he feared the worst unless quickly reinforced.* 
On the other hand, Sergeant Forbush of the 4th United States 
Infantry, who was a prisoner at Amherstburg, had contrived to transmit 
a letter to the captain of his company, informing him that the garrison 
of that place was extremely weak, and that on the night of the 1st of 
August the prisoners alone might have taken it, as the whole of the 
regular troops except a sergeant’s guard had crossed the river.* 
The commanding officers of corps were again assembled, and after 
considerable discussion, declared in favour of an immediate offensive 
movement, and Hull announced that in deference to their opinion he 
would direct an advance. Orders were accordingly issued directing all 
men on fatigue duty to rejoin their regiments. Three days’ rations 
were drawn on August 7th, which the men were instructed to cook for a 
movement next day. 

*Defence, p. 80. 
? Lucas, Journal, p. 400. 
* Anderson to Hull, August 4th, 1812. 
*Walker’s Journal, pp. 56-8. 

